CEBU City Mayor Michael Rama was not pleased with the transfer of Chief Supt. Manuel Gaerlan to Davao City — especially since the local campaign period has already started.
“It is the changing of guards that I will consider detestable, appalling and scandalous. There should be no changing anymore because we are in a campaign period. What is needed is stability, continuity,” he told reporters yesterday.
While saying that he has nothing against Chief Supt. Patrocinio Comendador Jr. who is replacing Gaerlan as head of the Police Regional Office (PRO 7), the mayor said there is also no sufficient reason why Gaerlan should be transferred. Rama said he suspects politics behind the transfer.
He said police officials have been transferred every now and then without consultation with the city government since he became the mayor.
“Now, is there incapacity? Is there dismissal or final judgment? Barring all of these, it will leave a bad taste,” he said.
Rama said Gaerlan and others like Senior Supt. Noli Romana were victims of transfers by the PNP. Rama said he only hopes Comendador performs well.